Needle valve



Apr. 10, 1923.

T. C. PROUTY NEEDLE VALVE Filed Apr. 2, 1919 www, @ma 7%/ Ell.. null I4 Patented Apr. 10, 1923.

umass stares rATENT OFFICE.

Misma THEODORE C. PROUTY, F ELGIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

PATENTS HOLDING DELAWARE.

CORPORATION; or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION? or' NEEDLE VALVE.

Application filed April 2, 1919. YSerial No. 286,986.

ToA @ZZ 'whom it ma/y cio/noem.'

Be it known that I, THEODOREC. Pnou'rr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of ,5f Illinois, have-invented certain new and useful Improvements inv Needle Valves, of which the following isa specification.

, My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in needle valves for 1.0 valve mechanisms which are used in connection with gas supply apparatus where'deli-V cate control is desirable, particularly in connection with pulmotors and oxygenizing apparatus for aviators, and the like.

1.5 The t invention consists in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In disclosing my invention, so thatthose skilledin the art may practice the same, I

; have chosen to illustrate it in combination with one type of reducing valve mechanism, such as may ybe used in connection with oxygenizing apparatus for aviators. It will be understood, however, lthat I do not desire 2(5to limit the use of rny invention to such devices, or any more than is pointed out in the accompanying claims. It is well known that in the art towhich this invention relates nearly all gases, as well 3.0 as atmospheric air, contain more or less solid materials in a finely divided state, so that when such gases are vforced through delicate valves under high pressures, or velocities, a

scoring action is likely to, and in mostcases does, take place on the tapered end of the needle valve against which end such solids arek impinged at a high velocity. Again, where oils or glycerine are present in the gas or rair a gumming action results, all of which 4.0 impair the efliciency of such valves and, in connection with oxygenizing devices ,for aviation purposes, render such valves practically useless.

Further, it will be apparent that if any moisture is present in the air or gas and the valve is used as an oxygenizing apparatus for aviators, such moisture at high altitudes would freeze and the resulting frost or ice would impede the correct operation and proper functioning of the valve with possible fatal results. In the accompanying drawings- Figure l is a sectional elevation of one type of reducing valve, showing my improved needle valve 1n operating position;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional elevation, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. B, showing the interioriof the valve; r v

F ig. 3 is across sectional elevation, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the jewelled needle valve.v l

tion with the reducing valve of a certain type, that is,^a'reducing,valve whichmay be used in connection with oXygenizing apparatus. The valve mechanism, generally speaking, is preferably formed of a cupshaped body portion 4, provided with a lovs7 pressure gas chamber 5. A yoke, yblockor similar element 6 is. provided `and rigidly secured tothe body portion of the valve mechanism in the gas chamber thereof by means of its threaded stems 7` and locking nuts 8.Y .Thisyoke or block to yall intents and practical purposes formsv a part of the body portion, and is provided with aninlet port 9 and an outlet lport 10, which may be connected with any desired mechanism.

VA cup-shaped cap portion 11 is provided, which has threaded engagement with, the body portion, as shown, and forms a diaphragm 12, which, in turn, is operatively connected with a valve-carrying bar 13uponr which a jewelled needle valve 14 is mounted, and by whichit is operated to open and close the valved openino 18 of the inlet porti 9. The jewelled needle valve is preferably made of sapphire, cut and ground to the desired conical shape, and forms the said controlling valve. It is mounted upon the carrying bar, so that thepdiaphragm, which forms one of the walls of said gas chamber, at normal pressure` holds said controllingl valve in its normal open position, but when subjected' to an excess of pressure it is eX- tended or expanded so as to move thejewelled needle valve through its connecting mechanism to its closed position. The valve-carrying bar may be connected directly withthe diaphragm portion, or, as shown in Fig. y3, may bev connected by means of screws 17 with a flexible disk 15, thelatter being connected by means of the threaded stem 16 with the diaphragm. y

In operation, gas under pressure, such as oxygen, is supplied from any desired source, and enters the valve mechanism through the inlet port, passing through the valve open- In disclosing my invention I have, as above stated, chosen to disclose it in connec- SKO.

ing thereof into the lovv pressure chamber. When the gas pressure exceeds a predetermined amount, say, about lifty pounds to the square inch, the diaphragm is extended to the right, and .carries lwith it the valve-carry ing bar and controlling valve, thereby closing the valve port. Such gas as may be in-the reducing chamber Will pass out through the outlet port, and When a suflicient amount has passed out therethrough the pressure therein vis reducedy or talls below a predeterminedhamount, and the diaphragm is permitted to move inwardly, or in theopposite direction to its normal position, and returns the jevvelled needle to its initial or `normal open. position. i

l. ln an apparatus of the class described, a valve mechanism comprising a body portien provided with a valve port, a controlling sapphire needle valve for opening and closing the valve port, and means for operating said controlling needle valve.

.2. In an apparatus oit the class described, a valve mechanism comprising a body portion providing a gas chamber, an element secured thereto so .as to practically form a part thereof provided withy a `valve port, a controlling needle :valve formed cfa conesliaped sapphire yfor opening and closing the valve port, and means for operating said controlling valve.

3; In. an appa-ratusorP the class described, a valve mechanism comprising a body portion provided with a gas chamber, -an element secured `thereto so as to practically form a part of said body portion yand provided with' a valve port, a controlling sap-y phire needle valve for opening and closing said yvalve port, `and a diaphragm` element forming one-of the Walls of said gas chamber and operatively connected' with said centi'clliiig needle valve and arranged 'to be operated by lluid pressure.

an apparatus'of the class described, a valve mechanism comprising 'a body portion provided with a gas-reducing chamber, a vyolre or similar `element secui'ed thereto so as to practically form a part of said body poi-tion and provided with a valve iiiletport, a I entrll-ing `'sapphire needle valve for opening and closing said valvel inlet port, a 'diaphragm element forming the outer Wall of said gas-chanibei-and arrangedto be operated by gas pressure, and a disk operativelyV yconnected with said controllingneedle valve and said diaphragm.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a valve mechanism comprising a body portion 4provided with a valve portgn needle valve of dense, hard nonsmetallic, non-corrodible, iioii-silicious material for opening and'closing the valve port-,fand means for operating: said needle valve.

6. In an apparatus ot the vclass described;

a valve mechanism comprising a body portion providing a gas chamber, an element lsecured thereto so as to practically form a cone-sliaped end for opening and closing the valve port; and means for operating saidwneedlc valve.

7. ln an apparatus of the class described; a valve mechanism comprising a body portion provided With a gas chamber; an eienient secured thereto sov as to practically form a part or" saidbody portion and pro-l vided ivith a valve port; a needle valve'of dense, hard, iion-corrodible, non-,silicious material for opening and closing said valve port; and a diaphragm element Jforming one of the Walls of said `gas chamber and operatively connected with said needle valve and arranged to beoperated by fluid pressure.

8. ln an apparatus of the class described; a valve mechanism comprising a body portion provided with a gas reducing chamber; a yolre or similar element secured thereto so as to practically form a part of said body portion and provided with a valve port; a needle valve of dense, hard, non-corrodible, non-silicious material for opening and closing said valve port; a diaphragm element forming the outer Walloi' said gas chamber and arranged to be operated by gas pressure; and a disc operatively lconnected with said needle valve and said diaphragm.

9. A-ln :an apparatus of the class described; a valve mechanism comprising a body portion provided with a valve portgalneedle valve or' non-silicious lapideous material -for opening `and closing the valve port; and means for controlling said needle valve.

l0. In an apparatus of the class de'- scribed; avalve mechanism comprising a body portion yprovided With a gas chamber; anelemeiit secured thereto so as to practically iorm a part thereof provided vvthva valve port; a needle valve formed of nonsilicious lapideous material in the'shape-of a cone for opening and closing the valve port and means for operating said needle, valve.

l1. In an apparatus Aof the class -described; a valve mechanism comprising va'. body portion provided With a gaschainb'er; an element secured thereto so as vto practically 'form a part of said 'body portion and provided with a valve port; Va 'needler valve formed oit non-silicious lapideous material for opening and closing said valve port; and a diaphragm element Yforming one il the Walls ot said gas chamber and operatively connected With said needle valve and arranged to be operated by fluid pressure.

l2. ln an apparatus "of the class described, a valve mechanism ycomprising n body portion provided vvith a gas reducing Iii) chamber; a yoke or similar element secured wall of said gas chamber and arranged to thereto so as to practically form a part of be operated by gas pressure; and a dise opsaid body portion and provided with? a eratvely connected with said needle valve l0 valve port; a controlling needle valve and said diaphragm. A

5 formed of non-silicious lapideousf material In testimony whereof, I have subscribed for opening andA elosin said Valve port; my name. a diaphragm element orming the inner THEODORE C. VPROUTY. 

